At first glance one would assume that the big-band jazz compilation released by Naxos Jazz in 2005 under the heading of
Concertos for Clarinet: Original Recordings 1937-1940
might actually be a collection of instrumentals that showcase the leader's woodwind. Instead, this is an 18-track "best-of" collection that includes vocals by
Leo Scat Watson
and
Helen Forrest
. There's nothing wrong with loosely applying the term "concerto" to jazz, but this application seems a bit careless. If by definition a concerto is a piece of music wherein a soloist moves in patterns that mingle, blend, or contrast with those being played by the orchestra, then most of the music reproduced here is concerto-like to some degree, whether or not
Shaw
included his oft-employed string section. The clarinetist performs with his orchestra as well as
the Gramercy Five
, dishing out jazz both sweet and hot. And yes, just like many another
collection, this one does include his famous
"Concerto for Clarinet."
But the title of the album is misleading. ~ arwulf arwulf